The Politics of [your_technology_here]. Communications & Media Essay

Name:
Professor’s name:
Course:
Date:
The Politics of Social Media
Introduction
The continuous advances in telecommunication technology account for a wide range of changes across the social, political, and economic dynamics of today’s global society. The different forms of communication that characterize the evolution of communication technology including the use of telephone lines to the introduction of social media platforms have been instrumental in equally diverse ways across the outlined parameters. The traditional means of communication such as telephones may have revolutionized the exchange, sharing, and passing of information from one person to the other but it is the advent of social media technology that accounts for the major changes witnessed in the world of communication today. Social media technology has, for instance, bridged the geographical gap of communication between and among individuals from different countries or even continents around the world. The same platforms double as sources of income for many individuals around the globe through different online working organizations. However, it is the recent use of social media technology to influence society’s stand on political ideologies held by politicians or promote political socialization and participation by the masses. Social media activism, for instance, accounts for some of the key milestones made in the world of politics as witnessed during the Arab Spring and in other protests around the world seeking for political reforms and justice. The same platforms have equally served to spread political propaganda and fake news for purposes of gaining a political advantage over opponents on various political matters. The manifestation of social media technology in society coupled with its ability to develop habitual users of the same, its merits and demerits to society function to provide valuable insight into the politics of social media.
Social media technology consists of various platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube among other platforms used by people from all walks of life around the globe. The advanced telecommunication technology is lauded for the easier actualization of important concepts such as globalization. According to Andrea Calderaro, “Social Media enhances the impact of the internet on politics by empowering its networking characteristics, enabling the creation of large political digital communities, and generating further political debate and political content (Calderaro, pg. 781).” The generation of further political debate and political content provides individuals with an opportunity to develop and expose their political views on various matters affecting the community. However, such platforms also function to influence individuals’ perceptions on such matters as they may be convincing even without facts to back the said political stands. Bekurov, et.al reiterates on this point claiming that “Social media unlock significant potential for use of propaganda and manipulation activities of the various political events, the dynamics of which depends on the quality of marketing strategy and positioning of political actors (Bekurov, pg. 138).” People who are considere...